#Japan #Visa #Tokyo #Mirakuri Quest #finansial literacy

Financial Literacy through Gamification: Visa and Mirakuri Quest

In a progressive move towards enhancing financial literacy among young learners, Visa Worldwide Japan has announced its collaboration with Social Services in the development of an innovative educational supplement titled “Mirakuri Quest: A Thrilling Money Adventure – A Day as a Crepe Shop Manager.” This gamified financial education material is specifically designed for elementary school students in grades four to six, aiming to impart essential money management skills through engaging, hands-on experiences.

The primary objective of this educational resource is to teach children about fundamental money-related decision-making processes, including earning, spending, and evaluating financial choices, through interactive gameplay. By guiding students through a compelling narrative, the curriculum encourages them to make proactive decisions and cultivates their ability to apply appropriate money management techniques in everyday life.

As part of the development process, extensive verification and testing were conducted within actual educational environments to ensure the curriculum's effectiveness. Notably, model classes were held at Osaka Kyoiku University Affiliated Tennoji Elementary School for fifth graders. Feedback from both students and teachers was utilized to refine the content of the educational materials. These classes provided students the opportunity to experience decision-making related to spending and choices, allowing them to reflect on proper financial management embedded in real-life scenarios.

Teachers involved in the model classes praised the program's accessibility, noting it was easy to implement—even for those educators less comfortable with ICT. There were observed instances of students repeatedly engaging with the material, contemplating the variance in outcomes, and deepening their learning through discourse. The high interest shown by students, including involvement with the material at home, signifies its potential impact on their education.

The educational supplement consists of three distinct stages:

1. Starting a Crepe Shop (Earning Experience): This stage teaches students the processes and challenges involved in generating income by making choices related to products and sales methodologies, as well as considering costs.

2. The Shopkeeper’s Shopping Experience (Spending Experience): Here, students learn about payment methods like cash and cards, while also navigating challenges such as loss or overspending. This stage emphasizes the importance of planned spending.

3. Assessment of Spending Choices (Judgment Experience): Reflecting on their values and spending attitudes, students will explore choices relevant to everyday situations, fostering a thoughtful approach to financial decisions.

Each stage incorporates quizzes and retrospective elements, ensuring that students can grasp concepts in an enjoyable manner.

Moreover, key elements of everyday life—such as planning, budgeting, and saving—are encompassed within the curriculum, providing concrete scenarios to cultivate comprehension beyond simple knowledge acquisition. Students will learn to think critically, make choices, and evaluate consequences, laying a foundation for financial literacy that will benefit them into adulthood.

This educational material is anticipated to reach approximately 100,000 elementary students across Japan, with its usability extending beyond school settings to encourage family engagement. This facilitates discussions between children and parents, promoting a deeper understanding of financial matters entrenched in daily life.

Given the increasing prevalence of cashless payment systems, the financial landscape surrounding children is undergoing significant changes. This underscores the growing necessity for young individuals to acquire fundamental money knowledge and judgment skills at an early age. Through its cooperation in initiatives like these, Visa is committed to contributing to the improvement of next-generation financial literacy.

Visa also offers various resources online for enjoyable financial learning. Visit Visa's Financial Education Page for more engaging content and programs.

About Visa

Visa stands as a global leader in digital payments, connecting consumers, businesses, financial institutions, and government entities through transactions in over 200 countries and regions. Visa’s mission is to link the world with the most innovative, convenient, reliable, and secure payment network, contributing to the prosperity of individuals, businesses, and the economy. We believe that an inclusive economy enhances the quality of life for people globally, and that access to the economy will shape the future of payments. For further information, please visit Visa.com (English site) or Visa.co.jp (Japanese site).

About Mirakuri Quest

“Mirakuri Quest” is an experiential digital educational resource developed by Social Services in collaboration with various corporations, provided free to schools for classroom use. The program aims to cultivate children’s critical thinking skills, enabling them to envision their futures through hands-on experiences in their lessons. Detailed information can be found at Mirakuri Quest.